Push to fix maths graduate shortfall

Australia’s mathematics fraternity will convene a forum early next year to address low university enrolments and a projected shortfall in the supply of graduates for the banking, mining and government sectors.

Maths is one of three fields affected by the government’s decision last week to scrap tuition discounts for students pursing subjects of national priority.

The move will save the government $403.4 million over three years and follows a similar decision for nursing and teaching subjects made last year. Students will pay about twice what they would have at $8353 a year.

While the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute agrees that the scheme wasn’t working, it will push for new policies.

“[HECS fee discounts] were put in place for a reason and that reason hasn’t changed," the director of AMSI, Geoff Prince, said.

“That is, there is a very significant shortage of maths graduates both at undergraduate and postgraduate level and Australia needs to do something about it."

The institute is flying out former British government adviser on mathematics Celia Hoyles for the February forum. She was instrumental in a campaign in Britain that produced a “remarkable turnaround" in demand for maths within schools and universities, Professor Prince said.

Initiatives introduced in Britain included setting targets for enrolments in advanced maths in year 12 and golden handshakes for maths graduates who decided to go into teaching.

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A recent report on the research workforce in Australia found demand for maths PhD graduates was likely to rise by 55 per cent by 2020. Industry also needed maths and statistics graduates, Professor Prince said.

“We have zero growth in supply but galloping growth in demand from the mining industry, the banking industry, from government agencies, IT, biotechnology, the whole lot," he said.

Group of Eight executive director
Michael Gallagher
said the real gains needed to be made in schools.

“It wasn’t working and it’s clearly expensive," he said of the incentive scheme. “The problem is really in the schooling system, not at the university end."

The axe fell on maths and science in last Tuesday in the budget outlook. Education Minister
Chris Evans
said there was no evidence that lower fees impacted on demand.

In fact, enrolments in teaching and nursing subjects rose by 8 per cent and 20 per cent respectively when the 2010 change was made.

The government will still provide incentives for maths and science graduates who go on to work in a relevant field of study.

Their HECS repayments attract a $1600 discount on their overall debt. Graduates who work as maths and science teachers may be eligible for reductions of $3200.

Senator Evans said that in recognition of the importance of maths and science in a knowledge economy, chief scientist
Ian Chubb
had been asked to develop new ways to boost student participation rates in maths and science.